‘I’m not sure that this has been done before’ (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe setting new Home Counties League standards

11:50am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Local Sport By Alan Feldberg

HIGH Wycombe are setting new standards at the top of the Home Counties League.

They wracked up their seventh win in eight league games last weekend in a blitzkrieg start to the season that betters anything in Home Counties history.

Welwyn Garden City were their latest scalp, losing by 82 runs to join a growing list of teams that have fallen by the wayside.

Wycombe captain Matthew Eyles said: “It’s pretty amazing. Statistically this must be our best start to a season.

“To win seven out of eight is pretty exceptional and I’m not sure if it’s ever been done before.

“With this weather around, to win so many games is exceptional.”

Tring Park have been in fine fettle themselves, winning five of their eight matches to keep Wycombe honest.

But the gap to third place is now yawning and with more than half a season still to play, a record points total could be on the horizon.

Eyles said: “Tring are hanging on just about, but there is a long gap to third place now.

“We’re an attack-minded team so there will be periods where we come unstuck, but we’re playing confident cricket at the minute, we feel we can win every week.

“Everyone is clicking at different times and I still believe there is more to come from the team, which is unbelievable.”

A lesser side might have panicked when Eyles, Alex Morgan and James Benning all fell in the first period.

But Wycombe are choc-a-bloc with match winners and last week it was the turn of Nick Robinson and Alan Duncan to take the game by the scruff of the neck with knocks of 95 and 100.

With no one else getting beyond 20, they alone were responsible for Wycombe’s score of 277 and then it was over to the spinners.

Luke Beaven, with figures of 4-27, and Chris Sketchley, 5-50, halted Welwyn in their tracks after the visitors had made a positive start and by the end it was comfortable.

Eyles said: “Saturday was one of our toughest games. On paper they’ve got one of the best sides in the league. They’ve under-performed so far.

“We were 40-3 and in danger of not getting a very good score, but then Nick and Alan put on 150 or so between them.

“It was a terrific partnership and then our spinners turned the screw.”

Saturday it’s the turn of Potters Bar to try and slow the runaway train.

Wycombe will be short of a few key players, but Eyles is unconcerned.

He said: “People coming in are all first team players and on paper we’ve got a very good side again.”

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